Photo courtesy of the ASPCA
We realize that National Poison Prevention Week was last week and officially ended yesterday, March 22, but we think it's always the right time to learn how to prevent a possible tragedy, for both humans and their beloved pets. Check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website with its plethora of poison prevention information, and learn what you can do to prevent accidental poisonings.
The ASPCA has contributed to this knowledge base with their own list of Top Ten Pet Toxins of 2013, a comprehensive description of the toxic substances most frequently ingested by pets. The ASPCA's poison control center reported nearly 180,000 cases of pet exposure to poisonous substances in 2013 alone—and topping the list for the sixth year in a row is prescription human medications.
As we move into gardening season and those open garages and storage sheds, make sure that insecticides, rodenticides and even fertilizers (if you must use them at all), are sealed and stored safely out of reach of pets and human kids. And don't forget to check if specific plants that you're
planning for your garden are toxic to pets. Check out this list of plants known to be toxic to pets provided by the ASPCA. If you have reason to believe that your pet has ingested a toxic substance, immediately call your veterinarian, local 24 hour emergency veterinary service or the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center's 24 hour hotline at: (888) 426-4435.
Here's wishing you a happy and safe, first official weekend of spring, 2014!
1 comments:
Great advice and we have had some nasty things happen over here with deliberate poisoning so very timely. Have a serene Sunday and let us all get some big easy in today.
Best wishes Molly
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